Gilford has an unofficial flag right now. It’s not really “New Hampsha” based but to me, this whole idea of replacing it is yet another attempt to replace history that shouldn’t be done.
The flag that Dunn referred to is known as the “Guilford Courthouse Flag,” which flew at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, on March 15, 1781, in Greensboro, North Carolina. The town of Gilford was named by a veteran of that battle, said Dunn, and thus the town has flown the flag during historical celebrations.
The Guilford Courthouse flag is similar to early versions of what became the American flag. The Guilford flag features blue and red horizontal stripes, with a white box in the top left corner filled with 13 blue stars.
It is that latter part that ties NH back to our country’s founding. Consider it a complementary flag in style to the early Betsy Ross flag. It evokes that time, that place, in which our country was founded – a troublesome time (especially for King George) to be sure but on in history, of political philosophy in which a new country was born not of geography or ethnicity but of ideas and aspirations.
As I have studied more of our history during GraniteGrok’s existence, it is that fullness and richness which becomes more and more important. Without history, one goes adrift. Without history, you can’t figure out how we got to where we are now – and how to work for a future.
Note, too, the founding of Gilford itself – 1812, right in our logo. While the logo really celebrates the Belknap Mountain range and Lake Winnipesaukee, it works – we’re in a resort area. But that’s beside the point.
We have to choose between the above, with all of its handmade and historical fullness of that time and this:
Sorry, this says nothing at all to me.
I used to be all in for the “change for the sake of change” when I was younger – no longer. One has to prove that there is a good reason for that change before I change my mind. I generally MUCH prefer modern design over older styles as well – clean lines, quiet, and few distractions. If that held in this case, I’d be all for it.
Not this time. WMUR’s titling aside – this is sterile and without meaning. Darren’s explanations of the geometry and the coloration are too cute by half for me. It really shouldn’t NEED an explanation – and that’s the problem. Without the explanation that he gives:
His ponderings led him to the shape of a triangle, which is inspired by the town’s mountains. Brown’s flag features a green triangle, for the forests, along the bottom; a blue triangle in one corner for the lakes; a gold triangle in the opposite corner representing labor, agriculture and craftsmanship, and; a white chevron, for the mountains, dividing the three blocks of color.
I get the triangle for the mountains and the blue for the Lake. The rest? No clue and I’ve been here for getting on 37 years (and appreciate modern design).
It’s too sterile – did I say that before? Why, yes, I did. I can appreciate all of Darren’s “ponderings” but this is not for me.
History, in this case, wins out. We are losing too much of our history and as I have said before, a lot of it is on purpose. No, I am not ascribing that to Darren – but it would be part of it.
Without history front and center, we become unmoored from our beliefs. We need those ties, that certainty of “place”. Without that, anything can happen.
And yes, there are those that are trying to do exactly that – have us forget our past and sub in a new one.
(H/T: Laconia Daily Sun, new flag image WMUR)
